Mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices having a pair of sensing members cooperating to form a pair of coin transfer surfaces wherein the separation distance of the coin transfer surfaces is determined by the thickness and diameter of the coins. Coins of a particular thickness and diameter will pass along the surfaces into a coin receiving chute. Coins not having the particular thickness and diameter will pass between the surfaces into a coin returning chute.

United States Patent Ruzic et al.

[ July 29, 1975 4] MECHANISM FOR SENSING THE 718,948 11/1954 United Kingdom 194/102 THICKNESS AND DIAMETER OF COINS IN COIN OPERATED DEVICES Primar Examiner-Allen N. Knowles 75It:HRLb;Rbet Y 1 men ors igi f ggz 3:5 i Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John T. OHalloran;

Vomel, Moglingen, all of Germany Menom Lombard" [73] Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, NY.

[21] Appl. No.: 444,638

A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter [30] Foreign Application Priori D of coins in coin operated devices having a pair of sens- Mar 16 1973 Germany 2313241 ing members form a Pair 0f coin'trans' fer surfaces wherein the separation distance of the 52 US. (:1. 194/102 transfer Surfaces is determined by the thickness [51] Int CL G07 3/02 and diameter of the coins. Coins of a particular thick- [58] Field 194N102 ness and diameter will pass along the surfaces into a 5 coin receiving chute. Coins not having the particular thickness and diameter will pass between the surfaces [56] References Cited into a coin returning chute.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 615,105 1/1949 United Kingdom 194/102 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I l 7 -3 L 1 l i r 27 a-flllo I I 25 26 g I PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET MECHANISM FOR SENSING THE THICKNESS AND DIAMETER OF COINS IN COIN OPERATED DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mechanisms for preventing unwanted objects from passing into coin slots in coin operated devices are well known. The dimensions of the coin entrance slot generally prevent objects of larger diameter and greater thickness from entering into the slot. Sensing devices are necessary within the mechanism in order to insure that coins of proper thickness and diameter will enter into the device and to insure that thinner coins of smaller diameter will be rejected.

One method for preventing coins of smaller diameter from entering the device consists of a coin transfer chute of a particular dimension so that the smaller coins drop out of the chute. A method for removing coins that are too thin from entering into the device is to provide a pair of surfaces having a particular separation distance so that coins thinner than the particular separation distance will fall between the gap between the surfaces.

Swiss Pat. No. 280,328 discloses amethod which employs an inclined chute having openings in the wall of the chute so that the coins roll down the chute under gravity and the coins which have a smaller diameter than required fall out of the chute through the holes. The chute also has running surfaces on which the coins can roll. The surfaces are positioned such that coins thinner than the required thickness will slip off. German Pat. No. 959,689 is similar to Swiss Pat. No. 280,328, but also includes adjustable straight edges along with the holes in the chute for testing the coin diameter. Deflector plates are provided for coins which are eliminated from the chute. Coin thickness testing is provided by means of adjustable flaps in combination with the slip-off surfaces. German published application number 2,133,109 includes a groove in the running surface so that coins which are thinner than required, fall into the groove and are tipped over. One device which does not employ gravity to feed the coins into the coin operated device is described in Unterrichtsblatter der Deutschen Bundespost, Ed. B, 9th Vol. (1956) No. 19/20 p. 224. This mechanism consists of a depression for inserting the coins. The coins must be forced into the coin box by a moving lever. The coins which are thicker or larger than required do not fit into the depression, whereas coins which are smaller than required are unable to actuate the electrical contacts.

These methods, although effective, often require a series of mechanisms within the device so that once, for example, a coin has been tested or sensed for diameter, it is then tested for thickness. The installation of a sequence of diameter and thickness testing mechanisms can be very space consuming and expensive. This invention provides a mechanism for simultaneously determining whether a coin has the particular thickness and diameter sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention consists of a mechanism forsimultaneously sensing the thickness and diameter of a coin and determining whether the coin has the particular thickness and diameter required. The mechanism comprises a movable sensing element pivotably mounted in a housing and spring loaded to cooperate with the housing in order to form a pair of coin transfer surfaces. Forcing the coin through the opening formed between the sensing member and the housing will allow coins of a particular thickness and diameter to pass along the coin transfer surfaces formed between the moving sensing member and the housing. Coins having a thickness less than the particular thickness and/or having a diameter less than the particular diameter will not separate the moving member from the housing in order to position the coin transfer surfaces the required distance and these coins will subsequently fall through the opening between the surfaces. This is accomplished by spring loading the moving member about its pivot point so that coins of a particular thickness and diameter will provide a required stop for the top portion of the pivotably mounted member and thereby correctly position the bottom of said pivotably mounted member allowing the coins to pass along the coin transfer surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. la shows a front sectional view of the mechanism of this invention;

FIG. lb shows a side sectional view with the coin in contact with the contact actuating pin;

FIG. 2a shows a front sectional view of the inventive mechanism without a coin release lever;

FIG. 2b shows a side sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a shows a front sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 1a for use with a number of coins;

FIG. 3b shows a side sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 3a with several coins in the storage space; and

FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view of the inventive mechanism having an actuating lever sliding means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 to 4 show different embodiments of the mechanism of this. invention for use in coin operated devices such as telephone pay stations and vending ma chines where the coin testing is performed purely mechanically.

The mechanism of FIGS. 1a and 1b is designed for testing and collecting or returning individual coins, i.e., in the test space, designated 11, there is room for one coin M only. The test space is essentially enclosed by a stationary housing 1, one broad side being formed by a movable test member. As shown in FIG. la, a test member 2 projects through the opposite side into the test space. Located below the test space 11 is a guiding device 5, which causes a released coin M to move either into the receiver chute 21 or into the return chute 22.

The coin M, pretested for maximum size (diameter and thickness) by means of the coin entrance slot dimensions, is pushed (FIG. 1b) from the left through a slot 23 of the housing 1 into the test space 11. Since the test lever 4, as shown in FIG. la, is of U-shaped section, with the leg ends inclined in relation to the coin passageway, and since that portion of the release lever 2 which projects into the test space is opposite the lower projection of the test lever 4 and also inclined in relation to the coin passageway, the coin M is moved on these two slant surfaces over a remaining gap 17. The edge of the test lever 4 at the gap 17 may be provided with a narrow running surface for the coin, the width of this running surface is only a fraction of the coin thickness. Since the sensing member 4 turns. in its upper half, on a horizontal pivot 8 and is urged by a compression spring into the upper portion of the housing 1 where it touches the coin with its inclined projection, each coin which is thinner than prescribed will slip through the gap 17 between test lever and release lever. In the rest position of the guiding device 5, the coin drops into the return chute 22.

Coins or counterfeits having a diameter smaller than a particular diameter also cause the sensing element 4 to turn clockwise (FIG. la). This widens the gap 17 between the first sensing member and the second sensing member, and the coin drops into the return chute 22. This test is made even more rigorous by the fact that the coins M are urged by the upper projection of the sensing member 4 against an edge 24 of the housing 1, which edge forms the rim ofa recess 27. If the diameter of the coin is smaller, it will no longer touch this edge 24 and will be urged by the sensing member 4 into the recess 27. This will increase the sensing members turning movement, and the gap between the lower projection of the first sensing member 4 and the second sensing member 2 becomes so wide that the coin is dropped from the test space.

The force 7 may also be replaced or supplemented by a tension force 28, which, however, is applied to the lower projection of the sensing member 4. If necessary, the force may be chosen so that the coins are dropped from the test space even if the appparatus is not operated in a horizontal position or is subjected to shocks. Suitable spring tensional devices are helical, conical coil, leaf and similar springs. Permanent magnets and electromagnets may also be used.

If the coin M has the required particular thickness and diameter it will remain in the test space 11 where it can be moved so far to the right (FIG. 1b) as to actuate a contact 6. The contact 6 is advantageously provided at the outside of the housing 1 and projects into the test space 11 only with its actuating pin 19. FIGS. 1 to 3 show conventional contact assemblies, which may be replaced by microswitches (FIG. 4), inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, or mechanical switching means. When actuated by the coin, the contact 6 delivers a control signal which clears the apparatus, i.e., the service can be provided. In a telephone pay station, for example, the microphone current may thus be turned on, or in a vending machine the removal of the goods from the compartment may be enabled, etc.

If no service is provided, the guiding device will get no switching pulse and will remain in a position in which the coin M drops into the return chute 22 in case of release, egg. by replacing the handset or actuating the coin-return button. To bring about the release, the pin 9 is forced down on the upper arm of the second sensing member 2, rotating said member around its pivot 10 against the force of a restoring spring 25 out of the test space 11. The coin is then ejected by the first sensing member 4.

If the service is provided, a counting pulse, for example, will throw the guiding device 5, and the coin M will drop into the receiving chute 21 after release.

With an adjusting screw 3 located, for example, at the upper arm of the second sensing member 2, the stop at the return of the second sensing member can be ajusted so that the gap 17 between the first sensing member 4 and the second sensing member 2 corresponds to the smallest permissible size of the coin.

FIGS. 2a and 212 show an embodiment which differs from the one described above in that it has no special release lever. The housing is designed so that the release lever is fully replaced as regards the guidance of the coin M to be tested. The release of the tested coin during the collecting or returning operation is effected by the sensing means 4 itself, which is moved out of the test space 11 against the pressure force 7 by a suitable driving member such as a driving pawl. In this arrangement, the pivot 8 may be supported either eccentrically in the housing 1 or separately in connection with the driving member. On the other hand, the test lever must be moved only very little.

The testing, storing, and collecting device shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b substantially corresponds to that described with reference to FIG. 1, but a storage space 18 for a predetermined number of coins M adjoins the test space 11 as shown in FIG. 3b. The housing 1, the sensing member 2, and the coin-guiding device 5 are correspondingly longer.

A coin in the test space 11 is moved by the next coin inserted into the slot 23 out of the test space on the other side and into the storage space 18. Here, the coins are no longer standing over a gap like in the test space 11, but on a running surface 20 of the guiding member (FIG. 3a). The apparatus cannot be released by the contact 6 until the first coin moves the actuating pin 19, i.e., until the device is filled with the intended number of coins. There are two possibilities: The contact 6 is actuated by the coins either if the test space and the storage space are filled or if only the storage space is filled. In this case, it must be insured that the last coin is moved all the way through the test space 11 into the storage space 18.

For the release, the sensing member 2 is turned by the actuating pin 9, and all coins are freed simultaneously. Coins not having the nominal dimensions have already been eliminated in the test space 11 and do not reach the storage space 18 at all. The width of the storage space must be only slightly greater than the thickness of the coin M. Advantageously, at least the sidewalls of the storage space are provided with sliding ribs 26.

Adaptation of the storage to coins M of different size or different number may be effected, for example, by means of shorter or longer actuating pins 19 at the contact 6. In this case, it is possible that the storage space is not completely filled with coins (FIG. 3b).

FIG. 4 shows a device which essentially corresponds to that shown in, and described with reference to, FIG. 3b, but here, a device for feeding coins into the test and storage spaces is placed in front of the test space 11. Feeding is effected with the aid of a slide 12 which is guided in a part placed in front of, or molded onto, the housing I. The slide is provided with an actuating lever 14 projecting from the housing 1. For feeding, the slide is moved, manually or automatically and against the force ofa compression spring 15, to the left into the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 4. Thus, a space is obtained in front of the slide for a coin which is inserted from above into the coin slot 16. Following the release of the lever 14, the compression spring 15 returns the slide 12 to the starting position, shown in FIG. 4 on the right (solid lines), and the coin (broken line) is moved into the test space 11. Coins deposited before and already checked are moved into the storage space 18 or in the direction of contact 6, which is shown here as a microswitch. The remaining operations are analogous to those described above.

To prevent the coin from being taken out of the test space 11 through the coin slot 16, the housing is provided with lugs 13 or the like which resiliently project into the coin passageway and permit passage of the coins in one direction only.

While we have described above the principles of our invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of our invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices comprising:

a housing including a coin entrance slot;

a first coin sensing member adjacent said entrance slot pivotably attached to said housing, said first sensing member having top and bottom projections, said top projection being spring loaded relative to said housing; and

a second coin sensing member pivotably attached to said housing and cooperating with said first coin sensing member to form two movably separable coin transfer surfaces, said second sensing member being spring loaded relative to the bottom projection of said first member, said bottom projection of said first member forming coin transfer surfaces in cooperation with said second sensing member so that a coin of particular thickness in diameter will pass between the top projection of said first member and said housing and provide a stop for said spring loaded top projection preventing said bottom projection coin transfer surface from moving away from said second member coin transfer surface thereby preventing said coin of particular thickness and diameter from falling through the opening therebetween said coin transfer surfaces.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 further including actuating pin and contact means within said housing whereby coins of a particular thickness and diameter entering said slot can pass along said surfaces for contacting said actuating pin and contact means.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2 further including a coin return chute proximate said coin transfer surfaces whereby coins not having a particular thickness and diameter will automatically pass through the opening between said coin transfer surfaces into said return chute.

4. The mechanism according to claim 2 further including a coin collector chute proximate said coin transfer surfaces wherein said coin of particular thickness and diameter will contact said actuating pin and contact and pass into said collector chute.

5. The mechanism of claim 2 including a storage space between said coin entrance slot and said actuating pin and contact means for storing a plurality of coins prior to contacting said actuating pin and contact means.

6. The mechanism of claim 2 further including a sliding member between said coin slot and said coin transfer surfaces so that a plurality of coins can be fed by means of said sliding member over said coin transfer surfaces into said storage space.

7. A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices comprising:

a. a housing including a coin entrance slot and coin receiving and returning chutes; and

b. aspring loaded sensing member having top and bottom projections pivotably attached to said housing proximate said entrance slot and said receiving and returning chutes, wherein said top projection is spring loaded toward said housing and said bottom projection is spring loaded away from said housing, said bottom projection cooperating with said housing to form a pair of coin transfer surfaces, and said top projection cooperating with said housing for determining the separation distance between said surfaces by causing said bottom projection to move toward said housing under spring compression when a coin of particular thickness and diameter is forced between said top projection and said housing allowing said coin of particular thickness and diameter to pass along said coin transfer surfaces into said coin receiving chute, and wherein said bottom projection is caused to move away from said housing under spring tension when a coin not having a particular thickness and diameter is forced between a top projection in said housing and whereby a separation distance between said coin transfer surfaces is increased causing said coin not having the particular thickness and diameter to pass between said surfaces into said coin returning chute. 

1. A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices comprising: a housing including a coin entrance slot; a first coin sensing member adjacent said entrance slot pivotably attached to said housing, said first sensing member having top and bottom projections, said top projection being spring loaded relative to said housing; and a second coin sensing member pivoTably attached to said housing and cooperating with said first coin sensing member to form two movably separable coin transfer surfaces, said second sensing member being spring loaded relative to the bottom projection of said first member, said bottom projection of said first member forming coin transfer surfaces in cooperation with said second sensing member so that a coin of particular thickness in diameter will pass between the top projection of said first member and said housing and provide a stop for said spring loaded top projection preventing said bottom projection coin transfer surface from moving away from said second member coin transfer surface thereby preventing said coin of particular thickness and diameter from falling through the opening therebetween said coin transfer surfaces.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1 further including actuating pin and contact means within said housing whereby coins of a particular thickness and diameter entering said slot can pass along said surfaces for contacting said actuating pin and contact means.
 3. The mechanism according to claim 2 further including a coin return chute proximate said coin transfer surfaces whereby coins not having a particular thickness and diameter will automatically pass through the opening between said coin transfer surfaces into said return chute.
 4. The mechanism according to claim 2 further including a coin collector chute proximate said coin transfer surfaces wherein said coin of particular thickness and diameter will contact said actuating pin and contact and pass into said collector chute.
 5. The mechanism of claim 2 including a storage space between said coin entrance slot and said actuating pin and contact means for storing a plurality of coins prior to contacting said actuating pin and contact means.
 6. The mechanism of claim 2 further including a sliding member between said coin slot and said coin transfer surfaces so that a plurality of coins can be fed by means of said sliding member over said coin transfer surfaces into said storage space.
 7. A mechanism for sensing the thickness and diameter of coins in coin operated devices comprising: a. a housing including a coin entrance slot and coin receiving and returning chutes; and b. a spring loaded sensing member having top and bottom projections pivotably attached to said housing proximate said entrance slot and said receiving and returning chutes, wherein said top projection is spring loaded toward said housing and said bottom projection is spring loaded away from said housing, said bottom projection cooperating with said housing to form a pair of coin transfer surfaces, and said top projection cooperating with said housing for determining the separation distance between said surfaces by causing said bottom projection to move toward said housing under spring compression when a coin of particular thickness and diameter is forced between said top projection and said housing allowing said coin of particular thickness and diameter to pass along said coin transfer surfaces into said coin receiving chute, and wherein said bottom projection is caused to move away from said housing under spring tension when a coin not having a particular thickness and diameter is forced between a top projection in said housing and whereby a separation distance between said coin transfer surfaces is increased causing said coin not having the particular thickness and diameter to pass between said surfaces into said coin returning chute. 